Coming Home for Christmas

---

1

[]

It's our favorite

time of year

the snow falls

through the night

Where is your sister?

I need to leave for my shift

in an hour.

She'll be here.

We show up for family dinner

every week, don't we?

Yes, but you girls might have

to finish the tree

without me tonight

so that we have enough time

to eat.

No, we finish the tree

together.

It's tradition.

We'll finish sometime

you don't have an overnight.

You don't mind coming back?

Never.

Besides,

the more Christmas

cheer the better,

after the year I've had.

I mean, first

Jake and I break up,

and then my company closes

right before Christmas.

It's like everything came

crashing down on me all at once.

What is that?

Well, the job situation

wasn't your fault,

and you and Jake were not right

for each other.

I know,

but I just hate that

i sent him away broken-hearted,

with an engagement

ring in his pocket.

Honey, you did what was right

for both of you,

and he'll see that too

someday.

Do you think I'm complacent?

I think it's an easy trap

to fall into

when you don't yet know

your thing.

Well, what if some people

never figure out

what they're passionate about?

I mean, it happens.

I studied art history

and ended up in insurance.

Well, for the time being, yes.

Are you happy, mom?

I love what I do,

and you girls make me so happy.

Knowing

that I have raised

two smart and sensitive

young ladies,

that fills me up.

That's just it.

I don't know what fills me up.

I only know that what

I've been doing doesn't.

Well, then you need to look

at this time in your life

as an opportunity.

It's the shake-ups

that show us what we're made of.

Right?

We all learned that

when dad died.

Mm, we've done okay

all these years, haven't we?

Just the three of us?

Oh, baby,

we have done better than okay.

Oh...

Look at this tree!

I learned from the best.

Your father

did love Christmas.

And so do I.

So, for now, I'm going to enjoy

some Christmas with my family,

eat more baked goods

than should be legal,

and figure out

what I want to be

when I grow up.

Now, that sounds like a plan.

[Laughs]

Well?

I got it.

Oh!

Ashford estate!

I'm the listing agent.

This is

my biggest property yet

and my third time

with the Marley family.

I never doubted

it for a second.

The Marleys trust you.

Something is very

wrong with them.

[Laughter]

Well, you girls can help me

bring in dinner,

but I'm going to open

a bottle of champagne

so that you can celebrate

while I'm at work.

Please tell me that you made

a chocolate yule log.

It's tree-trimming night.

Oh, honey, I'm sorry.

I did not make

a chocolate yule log.

I made two,

so that you would each have

one to take home.

[]

[Shop doorbell rings]

Lizzie?

Looks like

we had the same idea.

Well, it's the first time

i haven't had to go into work

for a while,

so I needed

to keep myself busy.

I know.

Me too,

but at least

the board was able to approve

a little Christmas bonus

on our severance checks.

I just wish they didn't have

to close the doors

this close to Christmas.

You are going

to land on your feet, Carla.

We all are.

Thank you.

You've been a great boss.

You deserve to be happy.

Mm...

Oh...

[Rustles in bags]

...this is for you.

I saw it,

and I thought of you.

I was going to

drop it off later.

Thank you.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

You take care.

[]

[Bell ringing]

[Meg sighs]

For over a hundred years,

your family has

occupied this home.

We should write that in

our promotional materials.

Uh, will the furniture

be included as well?

Yeah, everything in it

is for sale,

except for what my grandmother

wants to take with her,

but you'll have to ask her that.

She's not speaking to me

right now.

She's 80, Robert,

and she's here all alone,

even with this big staff,

now that you and your family

are in D.C. full-time.

You're doing the right

thing by selling.

Oh, wow, such

history here.

If only these walls

could talk, right?

The sooner

we unload this place,

the better.

[]

Boring.

Same old. Ugh...

What do you want to be, Lizzie?

Lizzie?

Meg?

Do I have a proposition

for you?

What kind

of proposition?

One that comes

with a paycheck.

Does this involve me

working for you?

Because we tried that once,

and you threw a pizza

at me.

I was 17,

and it's time you stopped

throwing that in my face.

However, this job

does involve me,

but only in a

peripheral manner.

It's really good.

What is it,

and does it come with dental?

Okay, so you know

how I'm selling ashford estate

for Robert Marley?

Well, they need

a new house manager

to oversee the property

and prep it for sale.

They've gone through, like,

three in the past month.

That's a ringing

endorsement.

What does a house

manager even do?

You manage the house.

Okay,

the very wealthy have staff,

and then they have staff

who manage their staff.

Then who manages

the manager of the staff?

Heh. cute.

Come on, you basically did

exactly that for seven years

at your insurance company.

I don't know.

I...

I mean, thank you,

but I'm just kind of looking

for something different.

You know?

I want to find

that thing that's meant for me,

like real estate is for you.

Yes, but remember,

I started off

in the payroll department,

and then I happened

to land on a realtor's desk

who needed an assistant,

and then

she mentored me.

I mean, that's how it happens,

Lizzie...

By chance.

And you think

this could be my "by chance"?

Who knows?

But you love art,

and ashford estate

is a historical landmark.

Worst-case scenario,

you're surrounded

by that all day.

It's really nice?

This place is exceptional,

historic...

And it's only temporary

because the place

is selling soon,

and you might get an invitation

to the Marley family

Christmas party at ashford.

It is...

Legendary.

Only the creme de la creme

can get an invitation.

It's a huge stepping stone,

Lizzie.

Come on, give chance a chance.

I mean, yeah, sure,

I'll... I'll meet him.

[Sighing]

It's just a house...

That could fit

four other houses inside of it.

Okay.

Hi!

[Rings doorbell]

Hi, I'm Lizzie.

Miss richfield.

We've been

expecting you.

Oh.

okay.

Thanks.

This house is huge!

What it must cost to

heat this place, huh?

I mean, it's got to be

5,000, 6,000 square feet.

20,000, ma'am.

[Loudly]

20,000 square feet?

Sorry.

I'm not used to a house

that comes equipped

with its own echo.

Oh, thank you.

I imagine you need

a lot of staff

in a place this size, huh?

Uh, this way, please,

miss richfield.

Oh... oh... okay.

My last job,

i managed 22 employees.

Let me tell you, the fires

i had to put out there.

I mean, not actual fires.

I'm not trying

to imply that I'm a hero...

Or that bad things

happen on my watch,

but you know, I can

tell Mr. Marley all this.

How long

have you worked here?

Longer than I can count,

miss richfield...

Or is it miss Elizabeth?

You can just call me "Lizzie."

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